I’ve always thought Walmart and Target succeed for very different reasons. Target emphasizes discovery and design, while Walmart prioritizes function, value, and scale. Both approaches create loyalty, just in different ways.

That difference matters when it comes to exclusive products. Target has built a reputation around surprise partnerships, while Walmart tends to deploy exclusives more selectively. When it does, the goal is simple: give shoppers a clear reason to make a trip.

“Retailers are increasingly turning to exclusive brands as a strategy to stand out in a highly competitive marketplace. With price and convenience no longer enough to secure loyalty, stores like Walmart, Target, and Amazon are focusing on offering products that shoppers cannot find anywhere else. This strategy is designed to encourage repeat visits, deepen brand attachment, and differentiate retailers from their competitors,” International Supermarket News reported.

That’s something Walmart has done really well, and its latest partnership with Coca-Cola should drive people to its stores.

Walmart adds exclusive new Sprite flavor

Sprite has consistently been Coca-Cola’s most successful soda brand behind its signature cola. And, while there are lots of variants of Coca-Cola, flavors ranging from cherry and vanilla to lime, and even some limited-edition flavors created by celebrities and artificial intelligence, the company has rarely offered new versions of Sprite.

Now, Coca-Cola has partnered with Walmart for a new take on the classic soda.

Walmart will carry the new Sprite Chill Mango Citrus, releasing in March 2026, according to SodaSeekers, an Instagram page tracking upcoming soda launches.

The Mango Citrus release is the latest addition to Coca-Cola’s Sprite Chill line, which previously included Walmart-exclusive flavors such as Strawberry Kiwi and cherry-lime.

“A brand new Sprite Chill is hitting shelves very soon! This follows the Walmart-exclusive Strawberry Kiwi Sprite Chill that launched in March of last year,” the social media page shared.

Coca-Cola and Walmart will also launch a zero-sugar version of the soda at the same time.

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Walmart was also the exclusive home for another Sprite flavor earlier this year.

Walmart was also the exclusive home for another Sprite flavor earlier this year, Sprite Vanilla Frost, which combines the crisp, refreshing taste of Sprite with a smooth twist of vanilla, creating a beverage designed to delight and refresh customers, according to People.

Sprite Chill has had a variety of limited-time-offer flavors.

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Sprite Chill is a new take on the classic soda

Coca-Cola wants Sprite Chill to be a brand extension for its popular soda rather than a replacement.

Sprite is dropping its “coldest-est” offering yet, just as temperatures heat up heading into summer.

Sprite Chill adds a twist of cherry-lime to the brand’s signature lemon-lime taste, accentuated by a proprietary blend of cooling agents to deliver a uniquely elevated sensory experience, the company shared in a press release.

“When people think about Sprite, they think about cut-through refreshment,” said Sprite Brand Director Kate Schaufelberger “With Sprite Chill, we’re doubling down on these signature intrinsics while continuing our legacy of strategic flavor innovation and quenching fans’ thirst for variety and the exclusive badge value associated with trying and sharing limited-time-only beverages and experiences.”

Food Institute’s Jordan Wiklind noted that while this may seem like a small move, it could be very valuable for Coca-Cola.

“So, it’s no surprise that something as innocuous (even forgettable, if you’re not a Sprite or soda fan) as a new LTO in the beverage category could hold outsize value for Coca-Cola. Implication and subtle signaling with preferred or limited beverages in hand is nothing new this year – just look at the Barbie-pink Stanley cup craze of earlier this spring to see just how far people will go simply to hold the new hotness,” he wrote.

The brand is also creating products that make sense in a time when people want affordable luxuries.

“This access to the product due to high demand, scarce supply, and a price point that is within reach creates a perfect storm,” said Reilly Newman, brand strategist and founder at Motif Brands.

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